International

UNSC Adopts Statement Condemning N. Korea's SLBM Launch

The UN Security Council(UNSC) on Friday adopted a press statement strongly condemning North Korea's recent ballistic missile launches, including the latest one fired from a submarine on Wednesday.

The statement, led by South Korea, the U.S. and Japan, was unanimously adopted by the 15 council members, including North Korea's key ally China, which consented to a draft statement drawn out by the U.S.

In the statement, the UNSC condemned North Korea's submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) tests conducted on July ninth and August 23rd and ballistic missiles launches on July 18th and August second.

The members said the launches are grave violations of UNSC resolutions that ban Pyongyang from ballistic missile-related activities, noting that they contribute to the North's development of nuclear weapons delivery systems and increase tension.

The council also expressed "serious concern" that North Korea continued to carryout the latest provocations despite repeated statements to halt such launches as well as nuclear tests.

The UNSC also called on all member states to double their efforts in implementing Resolution 2270, the latest and toughest sanctions against Pyongyang that was adopted in March.

The council members also stressed the importance of maintaining stability in the region through peaceful, political and diplomatic means.

Meanwhile, a senior UN official said that China is known to have not demanded that Friday's statement include Beijing's opposition to the Seoul-Washington alliance's decision to deploy the THAAD missile defense system in South Korea.

A previous bid by the council to a adopt a press statement condemning North Korea's ballistic missile launch on August second was said to have fallen through after China pressed for its objection to THAAD to be written in the statement.

The official said the unanimous adoption implies that China has also acknowledged that it's necessary to send a clear message to North Korea for its continued provocations.